Season 2 of Netflix's The Witcher is in danger of repeating Game of Thrones' season 2 mistake. The Netflix series is based on Andrzej Sapkowski's series of books, and its first season was a massive success for the streaming giant in 2019, introducing a new audience to the legend of the titular Witcher, Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) and Princess Ciri (Freya Allan). The Witcher season 1 aired the same year as the final season of HBO's phenomenally successful Game of Thrones, and the medieval fantasy nature of both stories immediately drew comparisons between the two shows.
After Game of Thrones' ending, many former viewers found solace in the rich magical lore of The Witcher, and Netflix was quick to renew the show for a second season. Due to its success, The Witcher has already been renewed for a third season ahead of season 2's release - but the planned scope of the show could prove to be a problem. The Witcher season 2 will introduce several new characters and locations in order to establish a basis for future storylines and delve deeper into the book series' rich lore, with numerous castings for fan-favorite characters announced.
However, having the second season expand so drastically on the first mirrors Games of Thrones, the second season of which saw the show balloon in size to incorporate far more of Westeros' many locations and characters. Netflix is following the formula set out by HBO that secured Game of Thrones's success - after all, the massive and immersive fantasy world drew a staggering audience. However, in doing so, The Witcher could fall into the same trap for season 2 by introducing too much too quickly.
While Game of Thrones season 2 was largely enjoyed by viewers, it started by introducing so many new characters and settings that it felt like a continuation of the first season. This can prove difficult to overcome for viewers, as it detracts from the potential that season 1 promises, instead feeling like a fresh start into the world, which can detract from existing character arcs. The Witcher season 2 looks better than season 1 already, but its handling of the characters it will be introducing needs to be done sensitively to avoid repeating the way in which Game of Thrones began its second season.
The Witcher season 2 will introduce multiple major characters from the books, including Sigismund Dijkstra (Graham McTavish) and Philippa Eilhart (Cassie Clare), who will each require some attention in order to establish their place in the narrative. This also mirrors Game of Thrones' season 2 introduction of major characters - Davos Seaworth, Stannis Baratheon, Margaery Tyrell, and Melisandre, to name a few - and while they ultimately enriched the overall experience, having them join the show after season 1 slowed the pace significantly while establishing their allegiances and motivations. With The Witcher season 2 trailer teasing major villains too, Netflix's follow-up will have a lot of extra world-building still to do.
Still, even though Game of Thrones season 2 made a slight mistake in the way it handled the introduction of so many characters and settings, there are far worse properties for The Witcher to emulate. After the resounding success that Henry Cavill's Geralt secured for Netflix, it's likely that they're not overly concerned with falling into the same expositional trap as Game of Thrones. With Netflix having already renewed the show for a third season, it's likely that The Witcher season 2 will have its sights set firmly on the horizon, narratively speaking.
The Witcher Risks Repeating The Daenerys Mistake That Killed Game Of Thrones